Velebit caves - Definition and Overview

The Velebit mountain of Croatia is believed to have several caves with the some of the world's greatest subterranean vertical drops.

The cave "Patkov Gušt" is 553 meters deep and is the second deepest pitch in the world as of 2005.

The three-tier "Lukina jama" cave has a single drop of 516 metres (1,693 feet). The whole cave is 1392 m long and is the deepest pit of Croatia.

Other notable caves include the "Slovačka jama" (Slovak pit), (1,320 m in length), "Meduza" (679 m), "Velebita" (580 m).

At the foot of the Lukina jama, there are ponds and streams including one of the largest known colonies of subterranean leeches.

Lukina jama is located at the "Hajdučki i Rožanski kukovi" special reserve, a dedicated part of the Sjeverni Velebit national park within the Velebit nature park. The inaccessibility of the torn rocky peaks that the Rožanski kukovi are was the reason this cave was only discovered in 1992.

External link

• Lukina jama, from the Speleological Committee of the Croatian Mountaineering Association (http://public.carnet.hr/speleo/eng/lukinaj.html)